Moistening apparatus



June 2, 19422.

R. F. MorgmsoN MOISTENING APPARATUS 5 SheetsFSheet 1 Filed July 17, 1959 June 2, 1942. R. F. MORRISON MOISTENING APPARATUS Filed July 17,' 1939 June 2, 1942.

R. F. MoRRlsoN 2,284,622 MOISTENING APPARATUS Filed July 17, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 R. F. MoRRlscpN MOISTENING APPARATUS Filed July 17, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 S [um June 2, 1942.

Jim; 2, 1942.

R. F. MoRRpsoN MOISTENING APPARATUS Filed July 17, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fr Zarza,

figg/0 75 75a J/ /f Patented June 2, 1942 ldOISTENING APPARATUS Robert F. Morrison, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Ditto, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of West Virginia Application July 17, 1939, Serial No. 284,947

2 Claims.

which has the data to be duplicated written or l typewritten in reverse thereon with copying ink, is attached to a duplicating drum, the copy sheets being pressed against the master sheet one by one by a pressure or platten roller. Each copy sheet is moistened with a solvent-for the copying ink as it is advanced to the bight between the duplicating drum and the pressure or platen roller, and a suflicient amount of the ink adheres to the copy sheet to make a good copy in positive.

A primary object of the invention is to provide improved means for applying the solvent to the copy sheets so that each copy sheet will be provided with a thin lm of the solvent of substantially equal thickness throughout immediately before the copy sheet is pressed against the master sheet.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following detailed description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through a duplicating machine which has moistening mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken 6 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken 1 1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken 8 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken 9 9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section taken ID I0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken Il II of Fig. 9;

on line on line on line on line on line on line on line on line on line Fig. 12 is a plan elevation, partly in section, of 55 a roller which embodies a modified form of the invention;

vFig. 13 is a section taken on line I'3 I3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken through a roller which embodies another form of the invention, and

Fig. 15 is a plan View of a roller embodying another form of the invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated as it is employed in a duplicating machine, the reference character l0 designates generally the frame of the machine. I I is a duplicating drum to which a master sheet Ila may be attached by means well known to those skilled in the art. The master sheet IIa may be made by placing it in a typewriter with a carbon sheet backing it so that, when one typewrites, the data to be duplicated appears in reverse upon the back surface of they master sheet. Obviously, when copy sheets are pressed against the master sheet in the proper manner, the copy sheets will have the data to be duplicated on them in positive,

I2 is a pressure or platen roller for pressing the copy sheets against the master sheet carried by the drum II. A stack or pile of copy sheets I2a is shown in Fig. 3. Obviously, if the copy sheets are advanced one by one to the bight between the drum I I and the pressure or platen roller I2, the roller I2 Will press the copy sheets against the master sheet lia carried by the drum Il.

The roller I2 frictionally engages the drum II and is driven thereby. The drum II is driven by means including a crank (not shown) which is mounted on the outer end of a stub shaft I4 having a pinion I6 fixed to it. The pinion I6 meshes with a gear I8 mounted upon a shaft I9 which, in turn, is mounted in the frame I0. The drum II is constrained to rotate with the gear I8. A gear 20 disposed concentric with the shaft I9 is constrained to rotate with the drum II and meshes with an idler pinion 22 which, in turn, meshes with a pinion 23. The idler pinion 22 is journaled upon a stub shaft 24 projecting from the frame I0. The pinion 23 is fixed to a shaft 2l which has its ends rotatably journaled in the frame IIJ. Fixed to the shaft 21 is a combined moistening and feeding roller 28 which frictionally engages a second feeding roller 29, the construction being such that the rollers 28 and 29 will advance copy sheets to the bight between the drum II and the platen or pressure roller I2. The roller 29 is xed to a pins 33 (Figs. 3, 7 and 8).

bined moistening and feeding roller .28 is supplied with solvent by a roller d@ mounted upon a shaft 4I which has its ends rotatably journaled in bearing devices lia which are mounted in the lower ends of levers 42, the levers 42 being pivoted intermediate their ends by pins 43. Pivoted to the upper ends of the levers l2 by pins 44a are pins lli which are screw-threaded at their free ends to receive knurled nuts 45. The pinsflllV project through apertures provided in lugs s which project, in turn, from plates 4l secured `to the frame l@ by the pins 33 and the Associated with each of the pins it is an L-shaped bar i3 provided with an aperture 48a through which the pin @d projects, the aperture @ila being formed in a portion of the bar t3 identified by the reference character flh. Disposed around each pin 34, and interposed between the associated part lh of the associated bar 48 and the associated lug 46, is a compressionspring 49 which urges the Ibar 48, the nut 45 and the pin tst to the left (Fig. 3) so that the levers 42 are urged yieldingly in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3) to hold the roller dii in contact with the roller 28. The force with which the roller il@ is urged against the roller 2B may be varied by manipulating the nuts 45 to adjust the compression springs d3.

To prevent the bars i3 from rotating around the axis of the pins M, the lugs le are provided with slots lia. in which the bars 58 slide. A bushing Mib is provided in each oi the lugs d, the construction being such that the pins 114 are slidably and somewhat loosely7 journaled in the bushings 45h (Fig. 8). The bars d3 are preierably provided with indicia de@ and Md, the indicia being preferably the letters L and D, respectively, as abbreviations of the words .Lightf and Darle The indicia indicate to the operator the direction in which the bars 43 should be displaced to increase or decrease the intensity of the copies being produced by the machine. It will become apparent as this description progresses that the Ymore pressure with which the roller 4l) engages the roller 281, the fainter the copies will be.

l As illustrated clearly in Figs. 3, 4.-, 9 and 1l, the roller 4Q is disposed in a tray t5 which is preferably formed of sheet metal, the construction being such that a small quantity of solvent, as indicated at I6 in Fig. 3, may collect to a suiiicient depth in the tray l so that the lower portion of the roller lil will be immersed in it, and when the roller rotates theentire cylindrical surface thereof will become kmoistened with the solvent.

Anyv suitable means may be provided for supplying the solvent to the tray l5, but in the preferred embodiment of the invention a supply of solvent is maintained in a receptacle' or tank 'I8 mounted in the frame l), (Fig. 1). Pump means 'i9 projecting through the tank l is adapted to pump the solvent through a tube BQ,

CII

a check valve 8l and a flexible tube 82 to a metallic tube 83 which communicates with an intermediate portion of a metallic tube 83a which has its ends bent to discharge into the ends of the tray l5, the tray 75 having end walls 15a through which the ends of the tube 83a project (Fig. 2). To maintain the solvent 'i6 at a predetermined level in the tray l5, a drain pipe 88 is provid-ed, which drain pipe 88 is of the same shape as the pipe 33a and has its bent ends communicating with the tray i5 through the end walls 15a. Connected to the drain pipe 88 intermediate its ends is a downwardly extending metallic tube 83a which is connected by a flexible tube Sth to the tank la. The ends of the drain pipe 88 are disposed inthe end walls 15a at such a height as to insure the proper level of solvent in the tray '5.

The means for actuating the pump mechanism F9 preferably comprises a lever 92 pivoted upon a pin 33 projecting from the frame l). The lever 92 is oscillated by a lever 94 also pivoted upon the pin $33, the lever 9e being provided at its free end with a roller 95 which rides upon a cam or disk 96 constrained to rotate with the drum H. The disk l5 is provided with a notch 9T into which the roller 95 is urged by a spring 98 when the notch registers with the roller S5. Obviously, as the disk is rotated the roller 95 moves into and out of the notch 11 and causes the lever 94 to oscillate and the lever 94, in turn, oscillates the lever 92 with the aid of a spring IDB forming part of the pump mechanism i9. No further description of the pump mechanism i9 or of the apparatus for actuating it need be given, as the details of construction are illustrated in issued United States Letters Patent 2,135,824 granted Nov. 8, 1938 to A Alfred Marchev.

As is best shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the end walls 15a contact the inner surfaces of the plates 47, the end walls Ed being preferably spot Welded to the plates dl. It will be noted that the end walls 75a are relatively high in height as compared to the portion of the tray adapted to hold the solvent. Pivoted to the end walls 75a by pivoting devices lil! is a cover plate m2 which, when it is in its closed position, has its free end resting upon a baiiie plate H33 extending between and fixed to the end walls Sa. It will be noted that the lower portion of the baiile plate IGS is curved to t rather closely around the roller 2S. Means is provided for locking the cover plate 82 in its closed position, this means preferably comprising a latch member 1632er which is engageable with the baille plate w3 and which may be displaced from its functionally operative position to its functionally inoperative position, or vice versa, by a pin |04.

The machine is provided with a copy sheet tray l l (Figs. l and 3) upon which the stack of copy sheets IZa may be placed and advanced one by one to the bight between the rollers 23 and 29. That end of the tray El!) adjacent the rollers 28 and 29 is inclined upwardly at a slight angle and forms a throat with the bottom wall Vof the tray '5.5 through which the copy sheets must pass on their way to the bight of the rollers 28 and 2S.

Improved means s provided for preventing the solvent from accumulating on the ends of the roller 4G to be transferred to the ends and the bight of the rollers Ml and 28. This means preferably comprises plates H5 fixed to the inner surfaces of the end walls 75ct by rivets |56 and Vl Il (Figs. 3, 9 and 11) Movably mounted on the lower ends of the plates H5 are wiper members ||8 which are preferably formed of brass, although other substances may be employed. The wiper members ||8 are urged against the ends of the rollers 40 and 28 by compression springs H9. The surfaces of the wiper members ||8 contacting the ends of the rollers 28 and 40 are preferably chromium plated, as indicated at |20. The wiper members I8 are slidably journaled on pins |2| projecting from the plates ||5. The wiper members I8 prevent or retard the accumulation of solvent on the ends of the rollers 40 and 28 when the machine is in operation.

The rollers 28, 29 and 40 are made preferably of resilient material, the rollers 40 and 28 being preferably formed of a synthetic rubber known by the trade name Perbunan, sold by Advance Solvents & Chemical Company, of New York city. The roller 29 is preferably formed of black synthetic sponge rubber known by the trade name Neoprene The rollers 28 and 40 are preferably of solid construction, although excellent results have been obtained with rollers formed of synthetic sponge rubber. The rollers 28 and 40 preferably have a "Shore hardness of 55 to 60. The roller 40 is preferably ground on its cylindrical surface to a rough finish, the roller 28 being ground to a smoother finish.

In some instances it may be desirable to form all of the rollers 28, 29 and 40, or some of them, of rubber or rubber compounds.

The operation of the above described apparatus is substantially as follows:

The machine is driven manually by means of the crank (not shown) and during such operation of the crank the drum rotates and, in turn, drives the platen roller |2. Rotation of the drum I causes rotation of the disc 96 so that the pump mechanism 19 is actuated. The pump delivers the solvent to the tray 'l5 and the roller 40 driven by frictional engagement with the roller 28 delivers solvent to the roller 28 in such manner that a thin lm of solvent is left on the face portion of the roller 28 below the bight between the two rollers. The roller 28 rotates in a counterclockwise direction (Figs. 3 and 9) and drives the roller 29 in clockwise direction (Figs. 3 and 9). The thickness of the film is controlled by adjusting the nuts 45. The copy sheets on the copy sheet tray may be advanced one by one to the bight of the rollers 28 and 29 which advance the copy sheets to the bight between the drum and the platen roller |2 so that the copy sheets are pressed against the master sheet one by one. As the copy sheets pass between the rollers 28 and 29 the roller 28 applies a thin film of the solvent upon the upper surface of each copy sheet. This solvent moistens the copying ink on the master sheet so that the data on the master sheet will be duplicated in positive on each copy sheet.

Referring now to Figs. 12 and 13 wherein a roller 40 is shown which may be employed in place of the roller 40 described above, the reference character |4| designates a shaft which is identical with the shaft 4| so that it may be introduced into the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive. The roller |40 is preferably made of the same material as the roller 40 but is provided with inserts |42 in its ends to lessen the friction between the ends and the chromium plated surfaces of the wiper members ||8. These inserts are preferably made from the same material as the body of the roller but are impregnated with graphite, the mixture containing about 20% graphite by weight in its preferred form although mixtures of 30% graphite have given satisfactory results and mixtures containing from 10% to 40% of graphite by weight are contemplated. Each insert |42 preferably com-` prises a perforated disc |43 having a plurality of pin-like projections |44 formed integrally with the disc. The discs are imbedded in the ends of the roller 40 and the pin-like projections have their outer ends fiush with the end surfaces of the roller |40 so that they are engageable by the Wiper members H8.

It is contemplated that the rollers 28 will be provided with inserts of graphite-impregnated material similar to the inserts |42 described above.

In Fig. 14 a roller is shown which embodies another form of the invention. The roller is identified by the reference character |50 and may be substituted for the roller 40, the roller |50 being mounted on a shaft |5| which is identical in construction with the shaft 4| described above. The roller 50 has collars |52 at the ends of the main body of the roller, the collars |52 being formed of graphite-impregnated material of the same composition as the inserts |42 of the roller |40. The collars |52 undergo a curing treatment assembled with the main body portion of the roller |50 so that the collars |52 become substantially integral with the main body portion.

The method of preparing the rollers 40, |40 and 50 is substantially as follows: after the material from which the rollers are formed has been cured the rollers are ground to a rough finish and are then immersed in the solvent employed in the duplicating machine preferably about forty-eight hours but at least twenty-four hours, after which the rollers are permitted to dry for about twenty-four hours. The end surfaces of the rollers are then dipped into a saturated chlorine solution for from three to five minutes, the end surfaces having been ground smooth at some time prior to the dipping step. The saturated chlorine solution also causes the end surfaces to become smooth so that there will be a minimum of friction between them and the wiper members. After the end surfaces have been treated with the chlorine solution the rollers are ground to exact size and are left with a rough finish as stated above.

The roller 28 is treated in substantially the same manner as the rollers 40, |40 and |50 but in the nal grinding a smooth cylindrical surface is provided on it in contrast to the relatively rough cylindrical surfaces provided upon the rollers 40, |40 and |50.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention the shafts 4|, 21, |4| and |5| have their ends chromium plated to reduce friction and Wear.

In Fig. 15 a roller |60 is shown which may be employed in place of the roller 40. The roller |60 is mounted on a shaft |6| which is identical in dimensions with the shaft 4|. The ends of the roller 60 are tapered as at |02. A roller similar to the roller |60 but having a diameter equal to that of the roller 28 will be substituted in the same machines for the roller 28. The tapered ends of the rollers of the type illustrated in Fig. 15 will have a tendency to give the solvent on the upwardly moving face of the pick-up roller |60 an initial movement longitudinally of the roller away from its ends so as to bring such solvent into position to be spread evenly by the cooperating forwarding roller.

The roller 29 of the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive, is preferably formed from 'sponge neoprene, the holes or voids in the Sponge neoprene being relatively minute to provide a surface on the roller which will be suiciently porous or absorbent to remove excessive solvent at the bight between the rollers 28 and 25. rIhe roller 29 is ground to size.

While the form and arrangement as shown are preferred, the invention is not to be limited thereto except as the claims may be so limited, it being understood that changes might be made in the arrangement Without departing from the invention.

I claim:

l; In a duplicating machine, apparatus for applying solvent for copying ink to. copy sheets, said apparatus comprising a receptacle for holding a supply of theY solvent, a resilient roller partially immersed in said solvent, a second resilient roller contacting said. first-mentioned roller and adapted to engage and advance said copy sheets, the ends of the first-mentioned roller and said second roller being impregnated with graphite, means for rotating said second roller, a thirdy roller driven .by said second roller through frictional engagement therewith, said copy sheets being advanced between said second roller and said third roller, and means engaging the ends of the first-mentioned roller and said second roller for wiping solvent therefrom.

2. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a resilient roller rotatably mounted in position and having its end portions impregnated with graphite, a second resilient roller contacting said first-named roller, a third roller in contact with said second roller so as to be driven by frictional engagement therewith for advancing copy sheets between said second and third rollers, means for delivering solvent into the bight between said first-named and said second rollers above their line of contact as said rollers rotate, and wiper means engaging the ends of said first-named and said second rollers for preventing the accumulation of solvent on the ends of said rst-named roller.

ROBERT F. MORRISON. 

